Tuesday, 31 October 2023 00:00

Everything You Need to Know About Gout

Gout, typically found in diabetic patients, is an unusually painful form of arthritis caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. The condition typically strikes the big joint on the big toe. It has also been known to strike the knees, elbows, fingers, ankles and wrists—generally anywhere that has a functioning, moving joint.

The high level of uric acid in a person’s bloodstream creates the condition known as hyperuricema—the main cause of gout. Genetic predisposition occurs in nine out of ten sufferers. The children of parents who suffer gout will have a two in ten chance of developing the condition as well. 

This form of arthritis, being particularly painful, is the leftover uric acid crystallizing in the blood stream. The crystallized uric acid then travels to the space between joints where they rub, causing friction when the patient moves. Symptoms include: pain, redness, swelling, and inflammation. Additional side effects may include fatigue and fever, although reports of these effects are very rare. Some patients have reported that pain may intensify when the temperature drops, such as when you sleep.

Most cases of gout are easily diagnosed by a podiatrist’s assessment of the various symptoms. Defined tests can also be performed. A blood test to detect elevated levels of uric acid is often used as well as an x-ray to diagnose visible and chronic gout.

Treatment for gout simply means eliminating symptoms. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs (Colchicine and other corticosteroid drugs, etc.) will quell the redness, the swelling, and the inflammation. However, managing your diet, lifestyle changes, and using preventative drugs are all helpful toward fully combating the most severe cases.

 Those that lead an inactive lifestyle are at a higher risk for gout. Any amount of exercise decreases the probability of repeat encounters with the condition. Reducing your consumption of red meat, sea food, and fructose-sweetened drinks also reduces the likelihood of chronic gout as well.

Ingesting Vitamin C, coffee, and particular dairy products can help with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There are new drugs out on the market that inhibit the body’s production of uric acid-producing enzymes. However, reducing or eliminating your overall levels of uric acid is the best remedy to ensuring you lead a gout-free life.

Nashville Foot &
Ankle Center

397 Wallace Road, Building C, Suite 411
Nashville, TN 37211
(615) 332-0330

Smyrna Foot &
Ankle Center

309 Quecreek Circle
Smyrna, TN 37167
(615) 220-2982

Spring Hill Foot &
Ankle Center

5073 Columbia Pike, Suite 230
Spring Hill, TN 37174
(615) 302-5400

Columbia Foot &
Ankle Center

1503 Hatcher Lane, Suite 100
Columbia, TN 38401
(931) 388-9922

Dickson Foot &
Ankle Center

111 U.S. 70 East, Suite 102
Dickson, TN 37055
(615) 229-3045

Fairview Foot &
Ankle Center

2340 Fairview Blvd., Ste. 600A
Fairview, TN 37062
(615) 229-3045

Hohenwald Foot &
Ankle Center

617 West Main Street
Hohenwald, TN 38462
(931) 388-9922
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